Unite regional officer Wayne King said: “We have been working tirelessly in our efforts to bring the employers to the table to discuss a solution to this dispute.

“We firmly believe that there is a simple solution to be had but sadly the refusal by the operators to engage in collective talks is risking the inevitable disruption that strike action will bring to passengers.

“The travelling public understand that further strike action is the last resort and can be avoided if the operators agree to talk collectively about the pay chaos on London’s buses.

“Bus passengers pay one fare, so why don’t bus drivers get paid the same rate for doing the same job?

He said: “Some drivers do not work late or at weekends, whereas others do and some drivers drive large double-deckers while others drive small single-deckers requiring a different set of skills.

“Each bus company has offered to meet Unite individually to try and resolve the dispute – the union refused to talk.

“But the most worrying thing of all is that the additional costs of paying a uniform rate to all drivers would inevitably mean higher fares and reduced services for passengers and fewer jobs for drivers.”

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